I wish I could comment on that particular one, but I will say that I have yet to be disappointed by a 5.11 product. I have the PUSH pack, COVRT ZAP 6 and RUSH 72. I would've thought React Gear would've been the place to look as they have other 5.11 products, but doesn't look like they stock the Nitro.

I have no direct experience using that pack I did see it when it was market "prototype". So I cant speak to the validity or quality of this particular pack.

Now unlike EMSW above... I have zero love for 5.11. I started out with a lot of love for them however as time went on they disappointed over and over. They make some good apparel their coats and TDU stuff seemed to be ok, however all of the pants I have ever bought from them have blown stitching within a month of washing. Their boots are terrible. and now onto their bags.

Early on I used mainly mountaineering and expedition packs. However when it came to a heavy tactical pack all I had was an issued ruck...that sucked. So i went on the quest for a good pack. Naturally I assumed that such an LE trusted company like 5.11 would make good stuff. Well I was wrong.

I Bought a rush 72 loaded it up and gave it a jump test. Straps broke. 5.11 replaced it.... straps broke.... 5.11 replaced it, straps didnt break... until my first time out in the field. The whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth. Not on the quality of the customer service but on the quality of the pack itself. I have never seen a 5.11 pack that was not cheap stitching, which is unfortunate and I know not a shared opinion. However its my two cents...

My advice.... Arc Teryx, Mystery Ranch, Eberlestock, Fight and Flight, Hill People Gear, Kifaru or High Ground. these are about the only pack companies worth a shit. Unfortunately these are all expensive

Interesting. I have a Rush 72 and it's held up great. Just too big for the purpose I'm looking for.

I wear the TDUs at work. I've loved how durable they are. I also have the TacLite pants. Those are crap for anything but lounging around in my opinion. Our Admin guys wear them and love them. That should have been a clue. Haha.

I don't mean this as an insult, but a lot of cops and even a lot of military dudes are tactical fanboys. They identify with the prestige of the organization, and/or want to ride on the accomplisments and reputation of the elite within their organization. That sounds a bit harsh, but I don't mean they are some stolen valor posers. A lot of times it's born out respect for those elites, and maybe even a desire to join their ranks. Elite units get prohibitively expensive stuff issued, and everyone else just has to drool.

5.11 gear is cheap but still allows many to feel like they are part of the cool guy club. Also, many departments request quality equpment, and their request gets routed through some bean counter who says "this stuff looks similart to the request but only costs 1/4 as much." So that is the source of the LE "trust" that Steve is talking about. At least that's my take on it.

5.11 is affordable and it will hold your stuff and make it easier to take it from the truck to the house, etc. It's fine gear for light day to day use, but it's not on par with an actual outdoor pack of similar cost. For the same price you can get a better and larger pack from Mountain Hardwear, Osprey, etc.

I hear ya. And it's not an insult at all. Honestly, if there was a pack that had all the features I wanted and still was subdued coloring enough for hunting, but looked conspicuously civilian, I'd prefer that.

But the MOLLE system is just really good at what it does. Allowing easier access to compartmentalized gear while not taking up room inside the main pack. And MOLLE will never look civilian to me.

Maybe I haven't put the 72 through enough, or I'm just getting lucky, but it's held up. If 5.11 is crap, it's crap. I'm not trying to stick to one particular brand. My work issued gear is what I'm told to have. Even being on two "special" teams, one tactical one not, I don't have much use for a pack at work. Other than carrying crap from car to car.

It's hiking and hunting that I use a pack for. These can be one day to a week or two long. So I don't mind paying good money for good stuff. Was just thinking this particular pack looked the right size and latout for a day or two trip. This is the first I've heard that 5.11 packs were not that great (obviously don't research packs much). So thanks for saving me a few bucks!

I have a Rush 72 I use for a 2-11 bag at work, meh. And a Rush 24 for EDC. If I wear it like a pack on both shoulders, my arms go numb. And it's not loaded very heavy at all. They're there, because they're cheap and inexpensive. Quality is so-so. My Kifaru is much better, but a Zulu isn't something I'd leave at the firehouse.

After posting this thread and reading the responses, it forced me to look at reality and what I want the pack for.

EDC, hunting, and backpacking. While going through the needs of each, it became apparent that one pack for all three won't work.

For hunting, I sometimes need a day pack, and sometimes need a 3 day pack.

Same for backpacking, although 3 day or longer is more suitable.

For EDC, I'm not gonna want to walk around with a huge pack meant for long term sustainability.

So the answer is this:

I'll be getting an Eberlestock F3M for longer hunting and backpacking trips. It seems to be exactly what I've been needing for those purposes.

For day trips, hunting or backpacking, I'll use the Rush 72. Mostly because I have it already and if it shits the bed, I don't care. I'll buy a better day pack when it dies. Day trips don't tend to be really hard on packs anyway.

Thanks for all the responses. My glad it turned out how it did. Otherwise, I'd probably end up doing this all over when I wasn't happy with my choice.

For EDC, I'm probably going to find a smaller quality canvas backpack and mod it for my purposes. I want it to look decidedly civilian, so I'll start there. Then mod the interior to carry what I want/need. Might be a fun project anyway.

After posting this thread and reading the responses, it forced me to look at reality and what I want the pack for.

EDC, hunting, and backpacking. While going through the needs of each, it became apparent that one pack for all three won't work.

For hunting, I sometimes need a day pack, and sometimes need a 3 day pack.

Same for backpacking, although 3 day or longer is more suitable.

For EDC, I'm not gonna want to walk around with a huge pack meant for long term sustainability.

So the answer is this:

I'll be getting an Eberlestock F3M for longer hunting and backpacking trips. It seems to be exactly what I've been needing for those purposes.

For day trips, hunting or backpacking, I'll use the Rush 72. Mostly because I have it already and if it shits the bed, I don't care. I'll buy a better day pack when it dies. Day trips don't tend to be really hard on packs anyway.

Thanks for all the responses. My glad it turned out how it did. Otherwise, I'd probably end up doing this all over when I wasn't happy with my choice.

For EDC, I'm probably going to find a smaller quality canvas backpack and mod it for my purposes. I want it to look decidedly civilian, so I'll start there. Then mod the interior to carry what I want/need. Might be a fun project anyway.

Sometimes looking decidedly civilian is very handy, but having tacticalish capabilities is too. As almost all my EDC kit is in velcro backed pouches for my Khard, I had a custom gear maker do me a velcro/molle panel that drops into my satchel and holds all my kit. Also means no permanent mods, and easily swappable between packs.

Don't not buy 5.11 for any perceived lack of quality. I've put my 5.11 Rush packs (and pants) through some pretty tough events and they've all come out unscathed. I probably put my gear through tougher situations than most civilians do (chronic Goruck-geek/ tactical adventurer) and I have zero complaints with my 5.11 pack(s) and/or pants.

Now if I were a SOCOM operator potentially going into a LoneSurvivor-esq situation I'd want something beefier. But I'm not, I do this stuff recreationally. Buying certain gear at a lower price point enables me to buy even more gear/ammo/adventures while still having money left over for mortgage/bills/retirement.

5.11 is not US made. That sucks. No way around that. That's important to me and I'm sure it is to you as well. Commercially raised animal-cruelty sucks too, but I still buy my meat from Costco because it's cheaper........... I wish all of my gear was "over-built" US made but us blue collar guys gotta do what we gotta do.

I've got various gear from almost all of the company's that were recommended in this thread and they're all great.

Bottom line: Don't not buy 5.11 because of lack of quality. Rather, don't buy 5.11 because it's not US made and you can truly afford better.

I also have the Messeger Mike the Moab 6 and the Rush 72. All have done what I have asked from them on the civilian side. Might not be my first choice if I was headed back to Afghanistan but for what I have them doing they are outstanding. Sorry didn't have any first hand knowledge of the pack from the OP but just wanted to chime in on quality perceived.